Nonlinear Physical Intelligence in Soft Machines

Soft robots and bio-inspired machines routinely display rich nonlinear behaviors—buckling, snap-through, multistability, hysteresis, jamming, and fluid–structure interactions—that can be harnessed to offload sensing, control, and decision-making onto the body itself. This workshop brings together researchers in soft matter physics, robotics, materials science, and dynamical systems to explore how the physical representation of soft machines can embed autonomous behaviour. We will focus on design and analysis strategies that exploit morphological computation and mechanical intelligence: architected materials with programmable bifurcations; compliant mechanisms that realize state-dependent logic; distributed pneumatic/hydraulic networks as analog controllers; metastable and delay-inducing elements for timing and gait generation; and passive perception via contact-rich dynamics. Sessions will cover theoretical frameworks, co-design methods that couple geometry, material nonlinearity, and control objectives, and experimental/robotic platforms for validating embedded autonomy. Outcomes include: a shared vocabulary and benchmarks for “useful nonlinearity,” guidelines for safe and robust operation under uncertainty, and a roadmap identifying near-term applications (e.g., field-resilient locomotion, soft manipulation, medical devices, and untethered micro-robots). By treating nonlinearity as a resource rather than a nuisance, the workshop aims to chart a path toward simpler, more capable, and inherently adaptive soft machines.

A lightning talk session is held by inviting open submissions and selecting six participants to give short presentations of 10 minutes  each. The call is open to students as well. Applicants who are not selected for the lightning talks will be invited to present up to fifteen posters. 

This workshop aims to inclusive interaction, thus, any reserch related to nonlinearity is welcome!

Submission form is here. The deadline is 2/28 (Sat).

In this workshop, participants can send real-time responses to speakers using the CommentScreen tool by scanning a QR code we provide.

The website of the product is here.